Cool Down in the Summer Heat

Summer temperatures are heating up, and your workouts are slowing down. Here are some ways to cool down when summer heat cramps your workout, without wasting all summer in a gym.

Yuck! Is there anything grosser than feeling the sweat droplets drip down your body, even when you aren’t moving?

I have a confession to make. I’m rather embarrassed by this, but you may be able to relate to me. When I was 290 pounds, I NEVER wore a skirt without wearing a pair of shorts underneath. You may wonder why.

When your thighs rub together, and temperatures are heating up, you get a nasty red heat rash from all that chafing. It hurts. Unfortunately, adding more layers as the temperatures rise means you actually end up sweating MORE.

• Yes, I understand that sweat is fat crying.
• Yes, I know that exercise is a part of a healthy lifestyle.
• Yes, I know I should cherish summer, when we can actually leave our homes without wearing 50 additional layers of clothing to keep warm.

But, I never liked sweating, and it used to prevent me from being active in the summer. I used to hate sweating so badly that in the summertime, I would camp out in my basement where I could cool down, and I would read my summer away.

For those of you out there who are like, oh gosh, I’m sweating just sitting here. I feel you. I still hate sweating. I get very cranky and irritated in the heat, which is why I live in a Northern state. A Northern state that also tends to have super high humidity levels.

Prefer to watch these tips? Click the video below.

And when you have excess weight, you tend to get sweat that kind of creeps along your legs in certain places, that maybe skinnier folks don’t have to worry about. There are more crevices when you’re bigger. It’s extremely uncomfortable to sweat when you are not even moving and if that’s your situation, here’s some motivation for you.

Before we get into that, though, let’s talk sweat. Yes, that yucky, drippy uncomfortable and stinky sweat that you probably dislike. Did you know that sweat serves an important function? According to Healthy Helper, sweat helps to promote healthy circulation, remove toxins and lower body temperature.

So, even though sweating may not be your favorite hobby, it serves an important function. And, hot summer months tend to make us sweat more, especially if you are an active person.

That doesn’t mean you need to suffer during the hot summer months. You CAN still be active when the heat drives you inside. This article will talk about 3 ways to cool down while keeping fit.

Check your Schedule

First, look at what you do when you first wake up. Yeah, before you brush your teeth, before you do anything, hit the floor and do some exercise. I don’t care what kind of exercise you do.

You can do push-ups on the floor, you can do squats where you are. You can go do an exercise video, or my favorite YouTube videos. You can even take a hike outside.

Hit the floor as soon as you wake up and exercise then. It’s the coolest part of the day, the sun may not even be up yet depending on what time you get up and you are able to get sweaty and then go shower it off, cool down, and relax on your own schedule.

Or, you can become a vampire. Exercise once the sun goes down. Most fitness gurus say not to do very strenuous exercise just before bed.

I agree with this because it makes it difficult for you to fall asleep. So, you can do more gentle exercises at night to still get some movement in, such as yoga or dance.

A nice lovely yoga routine to improve your flexibility or you can go take a lovely walk outside and enjoy the weather when it’s not sweltering hot.

Take it Easy

Woah! A health coach is telling me to take it easy?

The best way to set yourself up for failure is to launch into a super extreme fitness program during the full heat of summer and get heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

According to Mayo Clinic, heat exhaustion shows up as a rapid pulse and heavy sweating. Left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.

Heat stroke happens when you have a core body temperature of greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and can lead to total failure of the body’s temperature control system.

You don’t have to be overweight to suffer from this- in fact, many athletes can run into this problem. According to this article, more and more high school and college athletes are suffering from heat-related symptoms.

If you haven’t found a way to adjust your exercise schedule, and find yourself running at noon, you could be at risk for serious problems.

What can you do to cool down body temperature? Take it easy by swimming at your local pool. Make sure you wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn, and keep a bottle of water handy. I never go anywhere without a bottle of water.

As for swimming, you don’t have to be a stroke-master to get a good pool workout. Have you considered Aqua Zumba or even water polo? Check out your local community education centers or pools to see if these are offered! Or you can check out this post from Womanista on 6 exercises to do in the pool.

Refresh

I totally understand if you MUST get fit during the high heat of the mid-day. How can you quickly cool down and refresh in those cases?

Ice is your best friend, as well as plenty of water.

• Keep your water bottle in the freezer for grab and go convenience, and sip on cold water all day.
• Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and cool off after a sweat session.
• Head feeling a bit warm? Splash some freezing cold water in your hat, and put it back on your head.

Finally, try this cooling sweat towel. My husband bought this for me, and it really does work. Don’t want to spring for the extra money? Keep a cold towel chilling in the freezer and put it at the back of your neck at the end of your work-out.

The reason why this cools you down is because the brainstem at the back of your neck actually senses and regulates body temperature. You can also cool down your pulse points at your wrist if you find yourself overheating.

Using these simple tips will help you cool down AND stay fit all summer long. What is your favorite way to stay active and cool during the hot summer months?

Now get out there and get sweaty!